I apologize if my understanding is not what you think it should be, but most Catholics are like me, they do not have the time to read everything about this, and will assume things that are not there. The “mercy thing” I refer to is the constant use of this word by this pope. I feel like we are being brainwashed into believing that God is so merciful, we need not worry about anything, thus we need not repent at all. It is not true but it becomes a problem for souls especially if confusion is added to this new attitude. Obviously you have read this, and understand it better than me, but there are others who have read this and do not agree with you. I hope my opinion has not upset you too much. God Bless.
Not upset - more like frustrated.
I have read enough of the Pope’s comments to know that he also talks about repentance. Brainwashed? I am sorry that you feel that way.
What the Pope says echos strongly what is written in the Gospels. He was not an “unknown” as a Cardinal when he was elected Pope, and I have a whole lot more faith in the process, the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the acumen of the Cardinals who elected him.
He has his share of naysayers; but I don’t think there has been a Pope who didn’t. I am old enough to remember certain Cardinals trying to railroad what John 23rd was proposing; and when they couldn’t accomplish that, trying to direct the drafting of the documents; and 2,000+ bishops said, in essence, “No, that is the wrong direction”.
The Pope himself has said that this is not a Magisterial document; he has not changed discipline, but brought questions concerning that discipline to the table.
Some obviously believe disciplines should not be questioned; but in the history of the Church, that has not been the rule.
There is questioning whether certain matters are doctrine or discipline. Given that such an issue is way, way above the pay grade of anyone posting here, it might behoove all of us to speak less and watch more. My recollection from the Baltimore Catechism back in the 1950’s was that the Holy Spirit protects the Church from error in Faith and Morals, and this conversation the Pope has started is hardly complete - but the conversation is at the level of bishops, Cardinals, theologians, and ultimately the Pope. If the matter of reception of Communion in very limited circumstances is finally answered as doctrine, the matter will right itself, just as similar matters over doctrine have in the past.
And if it is finally determined as discipline, time and thought will be brought to bear. It is not a foregone conclusion, as some seem to think, that this Exhortation is the final resolution.
I am thoroughly aware of how many people have left the practice of the faith - for a myriad of reasons, divorce and remarriage being only one of them, and not the largest reason. I also have worked, and continue to work, with people trying to return to the Faith, and I know that many of them see the Church as a Church of laws and justice and anger at them and with them. The Gospel today is Christ’s law given to us" “Love one another as I have loved you”.
I have far more faith in our priests and bishops than others appear to have or seem to have. How this Exhortation is going to be implemented is going to be determined by the bishops and the priests who serve under them. Those who fear a massive, simplistic, sloppy, and loosey goosey implementation of the Exhortation need to calm down and let the bishops and God work this out. The ink isn’t even proverbially dry on the document.
And how it gets worked out with any individual couple is frankly NOYDB - any more than how someone, who has committed a grievous sin and gone to confession, is working out their salvation in a different circumstance, just as it is NOMDB.
The document does not say that the tribunal is eliminated, or that couples do not need to go that route; further, it is not as if priests are being overwhelmed with people trying to come back to the Church - including those in 2nd marriages without a decree of nullity. Given that set, there are going to be precious few who will not come to some resolution of the matter within the guidelines which have been there prior to this.
And given the very few to whom this document would apply - that is, those who for whatever reason either cannot apply to a tribunal, or who subsequently have with no decree of nullity, it is entirely likely neither I nor anyone else in this tread will ever actually know such a couple.
And in the event we do, and they and their pastor have come to some resolution (such as living as brother and sister), that is absolutely none of our business, any more than it is our business as to what someone confessed, or what penance they were given, or what requirements may have been made of them to avoid whatever particular sin in the future.
Yes, there are people who disagree with me. And last time I checked, none of them are people who will be involved in the decisions which may need to be made concerning the issues. An example may suffice:
Two Canon lawyers some time ago were in a (public) discussion of whether or not married deacons were required by Canon law to remain continent - that is, no longer have sexual relations with their wife… One, whom I highly regard, pretty well seemed to show that in fact, that was what the law required.
Rome’s answer: “No. That is not required.”
Roma locuta est - causa finita est.
Perhaps we should spend more time praying for the Holy Spirit to guide the Church, and less time concerning ourselves about that which we likely will know nothing, on a factual basis.
